Sync: e-bulletin July 2012

Spacious thinking

The work is rich and extraordinary and it deserves to be seen. These are not shows about disability, nor is this disability on show. Neither is it about ignoring the disability and only seeing the art – both are parts of the whole. (Claire Cunningham, PUSH ME artist at the Southbank Unlimited Festival press launch.)

We are in The Space at last and so far, so good!

The films are generating new audiences for the work and people are mailing and tweeting daily and reading our blogs with very positive responses. With 6 up and 6 lining up as we speak, we should have 12 PUSH ME films, subtitled and audio described in the Space soon.

We were lucky enough to be able to show 3 of the films for Rachel Gadsden, Mish Weaver and Sue Austin at the launch of the Unlimited Festival at the Southbank earlier this month.

They put just a sample of the Unlimited Festival’s artistic excellence on show for all to see in 90 second bursts of brilliance. Claire Cunningham, another PUSH ME artist spoke at the event and lauded the array of fabulous work that will be on show in August and September.

Why not give yourself a 90 second burst? Do pass on the link to as many people as you can.

Caroline Bowditch presents: Leaving Limbo Landing

At this stage I hope I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew. (Caroline Bowditch in her first 90 second PUSH ME film)

Caroline Bowditch in her first solo choreographic roll says it all in her first PUSH ME film on The Space.

It’s not an easy thing to take the choreographic lead in a very ambitious outdoor piece.

Caroline has been exposed to a range of elements, not least the rain. She told us how she’d had to stop and ask herself mid way through rehearsals whether she was really telling the story she wanted to tell. Leading is about going for your own vision whilst bringing others into that. It’s a difficult balance but Caroline has certainly cracked it.

We were lucky enough to film her 2nd PUSH ME film the morning of her premiere and nothing could stop us keeping the cameras rolling through 3 wonderful performances of Leaving Limbo Landing and to top it all, the sun shone!

Bobby Baker presents: Mad Gyms and Kitchens

Like all Baker’s work…you leave feeling better than you came in, aware as you walk down the road whistling that what Baker is offering is not a show but a priceless gift wrapped in a theatrical box of tricks.
(Lyn Gardner, The Guardian on Mad Gyms & Kitchens, October 2011)

Watch out this week for Bobby Baker's first 90 second film in The Space.

It’s a fine brew and hits the spot in sharing the vision for her brilliant Unlimited Commission, Mad Gyms and Kitchens.

The need to take her work to spaces where people meet as part of their daily lives and where they feel most comfortable is paramount for Bobby.

She employs her finely honed artistry and that of her set designer Charlie Whittuck and stirling team in sharing her own journey to wellness through some exquisite reveals that we won’t spoil for you, just make sure you see it at The Southbank this September as part of the Unlimited Festival. It will do you the power of good!

Graeae presents: The Garden

I’ve loved every minute of the PUSH ME filming today.Totally out of the box!
(Jenny after her day in the Geffrye Gardens with the PUSH ME team)

Jenny Sealey has been a Sync supporter from the off and as many of you know is now busy leading on perhaps the most important event of a lifetime, the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

She’s also our featured artist for her co-directorial role for Graeae’s The Garden alongside Grant Mouldey of Strange Fruit and the project means just as much to her as the bigger event.

In her PUSH ME interview Jenny spoke passionately about the need to tell stories that are hidden or buried.It's a metaphor for bringing our worlds into relief and the importance of showing explicitly disabled and Deaf creative excellence and its contribution. She's such a leader in this respect.

Her first film is currently having a score written for it and will be in The Space soon. You can find out more about the production on THE PUSH ME site.